9 February 2011
New Car Report: Maximum Value
Large cars have always been seen as more extravagant than small. In recent times we've seen price hikes across the board, accounting partly for the balance of the new car sales mix swinging towards smaller cars.
With smaller cars traditionally being cheaper than their larger counterparts, those purchasers with price top of mind, (and let's face it, that's most of us), may have crossed large cars off their shopping list, thinking the budget won't run to such extravagance.
Which presents something of a dilemma for Nissan with the introduction of their new J32 Maxima.
The Maxima is a large, comfortable six cylinder car. Some might say that the electrically adjustable leather seats, cruise and audio control functions on the steering wheel, 17" alloy wheels, huge boot and large car dimensions place it in the extravagant category.
Therefore the Maxima might be expected to carry a retail sticker somewhere in the fifties or sixties. But Nissan has thrown something of a curved ball at the buying public, with pricing starting at under that of many compact and medium cars at just $43,495 for their new 250-L and $46,995 for the range topping 350-L.
The Maxima offers a lot of bang for the buck and is very worthy of consideration, but the biggest challenge Nissan may have is to get the message across that the Maxima is priced to be in the consideration set.
Many people won't realise that a large, comfortable and refined saloon can be had for less than top of the line Civic money, and within close bartering range of top end Corollas, Mazda3's and Lancers, all of which carry price tags in the early forties.
So what, exactly do you get for your forty-odd grand?
Besides the afore-mentioned features, there is Nissan's silky smooth award winning VQ V6 petrol engine, dual zone climate air conditioning and six stacker CD player with AUX-in and MP3 compatibility.
You'll also get Xenon headlights with auto-on and follow-me-home functions, headlight wash/wipe, an intelligent key keyless entry and start system, electric folding door mirrors and a full sized spare wheel.
Benefits arising from the new D platform the Maxima shares with its SUV stable-mate the Murano include enhanced NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) properties, greater stiffness, increased strength, lighter weight and more refinement.
The entry level 250-L has a specification level close to the 350-L, and is powered with a 2.5 litre V6 producing 134kW at 6000rpm and maximum torque of 228Nm at 4400rpm.
Plump for the 350-L and additional spec includes heated front seats with memory settings, a rear boot spoiler and a tilt and slide sunroof. The 3.5 litre V6 delivers a more lively 185kW of power at 6000rmp and 326Nm of torque at 4400rpm.
Nissan quotes combined cycle fuel consumption figures of 9.5L/100km for the 250-L and 10.2L/100km for the 350-L. Towing capacity is rated at 1500kg braked and 500kg unbraked.
Both engines drive the front wheels through Nissan's new X-TRONIC CVT transmission. A six speed manual mode (M-Mode) is featured for manual operation in the event you feel the need to manually shift through the pre-set ratios in the CVT 'box.
Mandatory safety features include six airbags, active front headrests, ABS braking with VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Traction Control, Brake Assist and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution).
There's a decent level of equipment, but a few features are conspicuous by their absence.
Rear parking aid is something we've come to expect today, especially in the large car segment where many competitors also offer a reversing camera. With safety in mind, the absence of any reversing aid is disappointing. Also, an electro-chromatic rear view mirror would be appreciated for night driving, and telescopic adjustment for the steering column and a USB port would be nice.
Like the Murano, the Maxima's styling is reminiscent of its predecessor's. But the fine detail enhancements result in a fresher and more contemporary look, if not giving that all-together "Wow, that's different" factor.
But then, the Maxima was never really intended to be in extravert territory and has always been more on the conservative side. While Nissan's claims of "luxury-car specification" may be a slight exaggeration and perhaps "luxury car refinement" would be nearer the mark, we feel that the Maxima offers great value.
There's no arguing that you get a lot of metal for the money and the Maxima offers a level of comfort and space well beyond that expected of a sedan priced in the early to mid-forties. But whether or not buyers will be swayed away from smaller cars back to the comfort of a big six, time will tell.